The Sandpiper Group, an independent communications, public affairs and research firm headquartered in Asia Pacific and operating across the Middle East, has strengthened its public affairs leadership with the appointment of Aliyah Dar and Isabelle Trick as Associate Directors.
Dar will be based in Dubai, while Trick will operate from Singapore, with both taking on responsibilities to expand Sandpiper’s public affairs capabilities across their respective regions.
Dar brings two decades of experience spanning economic and policy advisory positions across the Middle East and Europe. Her career includes a senior strategy role at a Dubai-based investment firm and more than 10 years with the UK government, where she served as Chief of Staff to His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan.
Before joining Sandpiper, Dar led Global Counsel’s UAE operations. In her Dubai-based role at Sandpiper, she will focus on expanding the group’s public affairs offering across the Middle East, helping clients engage with government and institutional stakeholders while navigating national transformation programmes across the region.
Aliyah Dar, Associate Director – Public Affairs, Sandpiper, said, “The Middle East is undergoing extraordinary transformation, creating significant opportunities for organisations that can engage thoughtfully with government priorities and national visions. I’m excited to join Sandpiper and to help clients build the relationships and insight they need to succeed in the region.”
Trick brings experience in political risk advisory, having worked with private equity firms, institutional investors and multinational businesses across sectors including energy, financial services, healthcare and technology. Her work has covered emerging markets across Asia, Europe and Africa.
She joins Sandpiper from Global Counsel, where she led Investor Services and Global Macro projects. Earlier in her career, she directed an international non-profit organisation.
Based in Singapore, Trick will support the expansion of Sandpiper’s public affairs practice across Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific. Her remit will include helping clients engage with governments, regulators and policymakers while preparing for and responding to policy developments.
Isabelle Trick, Associate Director – Public Affairs, Sandpiper, said, “Singapore sits at the centre of the region’s policy conversations, and clients increasingly need advisors who can connect the dots between regulation, reputation, and investment. I’m delighted to join Sandpiper and look forward to building on the firm’s strong foundations across the region.”
The appointments come against a backdrop of changing policy and regulatory conditions affecting businesses across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and international markets. Geopolitical shifts, changing trade and investment frameworks and economic diversification are among the factors reshaping the operating environment.
Dar and Trick will work alongside Sandpiper’s leadership and regional teams to provide integrated advisory support combining public affairs, strategic communications and research. Their work will cover areas including regulatory developments, market entry and periods of increased political or public scrutiny.
Kelly Johnston, Chief Operating Officer, Sandpiper, said, “Public policy is now one of the defining factors shaping how businesses across Asia Pacific and the Middle East grow and protect their reputations. Isabelle and Aliyah bring deep expertise and strong relationships in two of the most important hubs in our network. Their appointments significantly strengthen our ability to help clients understand the policy landscape, engage constructively with governments, and turn regulatory complexity into strategic advantage.”
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